MUMBAI: Bengaluru-based Vachan Chinnappa’s story goes like this: A versatile musician, who began his musical journey with a rock band, Z axis who later shifted his area of interest to House and electro House. So, DeeJaying was a conscious decision, as a result of the fate most rock bands in the country face – financial obstacles. For fourteen years, Chinnappa performed where there were turntables and people ready to have a good time. Chinnapa’s road took him to NH7, Sunburn and an hour later performing at Supersonic’15. The DJ spoke with radioandmusic.com about his set, the electronic scene, and what took it so long to get noticed.
How would you describe your today’s set?
It went really well. From an artist’s perspective, really well. What happens at festivals is, you set up between different sets and sometimes something unsettling happens, and I use turntables and it usually gets complicated. Today, I had 2 hours to set-up and everything went well.
Back in the studios, how do you manage and try to ensure you never have a ‘I quit’ moment?
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As an artist, you keep re-inventing yourself so you do not get bored. Do not only try one style of music. I do drum n bass or funk, so I am not involved into one type of music. DJs are the first people who start hating their music when they play it too often. Fans are listening it to the first time, but as a DJ, you feel it’s getting old. At least, I feel, one must be into three styles of music, and also importantly, do not overdo one style of music. It’s important to keep your musicality alive.
How does a Drum n bass or a funk or techno DJ decide the length of the track? When is the right time to insert an outro?
Mostly, there’s a pattern. You set goals, like, ‘I am gonna make a 4 and a half minutes track’. As a DJ, I do not want to make a song and sit on it. You keep listening to same sound for 30 seconds over and over again, and it kills the vibe.
Your journey started from a musical-educated city like Bengaluru, and now you’re noticed everywhere. How would you describe the journey?
It took a long while. I have been Deejay-ing for 18 years, and for the first fourteen years I was not given my dues. Two years, you are popular and then there’s a void for a long time. I don’t even have a manager, but it’s going good now.
On the other hand, a lot of international DJs become popular at a very early age.
It also depends on the crowd you’re catering to. ‘That’ stage with EDM music is easier. It’s ideal for EDM/electronic. The music that I do requires a lot of time to understand, and is an evolved genre. For EDM, it’s easy to attract young fans who are not exposed to electronic music.
Do you believe that the lack of recognition for 14 years was a direct result of what they say ‘saturation of electronic music’?
That’s why I was doing all kinds of music. I moved to drum n bass 6 years ago. I and few friends brought it to this country. Nothing like that was happening in India. Now, we have a stage there.
And what do you have to say about Supersonic’s third edition?
It’s only getting bigger, and right now it feels like a family.
2016 will include more projects?
I am working on an electronic 4-piece outfit. Few musician friends from around the country coming together and producing music.
Decided the name?
Yeah, Skip Intro. That’s what it will be called. The music will continue to be as versatile as my independent project. Hopefully, the music would be done by November. The intention is finalised, not the members.
